2015 is the year in which the Civil Resolution Tribunal Act is anticipated to come fully into force and will commence operations. As a strata corporation, owner or tenant, are you looking for an efficient way to settle disagreements at a reasonable cost? Look no further. The Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) will be Canada's first online tribunal and will be the handy tool to be utilized in settling disputes. It is a straightforward, convenient and timely process.

Strata owners have been longing for a better - and faster - method to resolve disputes. In 2012, the government introduced the Civil Resolution Tribunal Act which was an alternative to court. Fast forward three years and this new online tribunal is ready to be launched. The CRT is being designed primarily as an online tribunal. It provides information regarding strata dispute resolutions as well as any small claims issues which include:

x Non-payment of monthly strata fees or finesx Unfair actions by the strata corporation or by people owning more than half of the strata lots in a complexx Unfair, arbitrary or non-enforcement of strata bylaws (such as noise, pets, parking, rentals etc)x Issues of financial responsibility for repairs and the choice of bids for servicesx Irregularities in the conduct of meetings, voting, minutes or other mattersx Interpretation of the legislation, regulations or bylaws and x Issues regarding common property.

Strata disputes can be resolved in one of two ways: (1) The CRT Process or (2) The Existing Court System (Provincial and Supreme Courts of BC). If a party wishes to use the online process to resolve a dispute against a strata corporation, the corporation must participate in the online process as well.